Book signature feeding method



Dec. 11, 1945. cfscHRAMM BOOK SIGNATURE FEEDING METHOD Filed March 13, 1944 Patented Dec. 11, 1945 BOOK SIGNATURE FEEDING METHOD Carl Schramm, North Coventry, Conn., assignor to Smyth Manufacturing Company, Hartford,

Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application March 13, 1944, Serial No. 526,144

'1 Claims.

Book signatures commonly comprise sheets of paper right-angularly folded, that is, folded across what is to be the top or head of the book and folded across what is to be the back of the book. In assembling into book form the signatures are opened at the middle and deposited on a support or saddle from which they are fed to a stitching or stapling machine that secures together the folded back edges. Subsequently the folded head edges and front edges are trimmed.

Ordinarily at the front of the first and the back of the last signature are end-leaves or sheets for the attachment of the cover. Sometimes illustrating or advertising plates are placed between the front end-leaves and main signature leaves. The end-sheets have single folds that are pasted along the back edges of the adjacent signature leaves and often times the end-leaves and plates are of heavier stock than the other signature leaves.

The invention is illustrated and described herein as adapted to signature feeding machines of the type disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,025,527, dated Dec. 24, 1935, and 2,124,862, dated July 26, 1938, and reference is made thereto for an understanding of the operating mechanisms.

In the prior machines the signature is fed to Y its folded back' edge in advance, until it hangs vertically. When in this position suction cups swing upward and inward from opposite sides and grasp the end-leaves near the unfolded lower or front book edge, and then swing downward and outward so as to draw the signature from the cylinder and pull it open. When opened the suction of the cups on the end-leaves is released and the signature allowed to drop onto the support or saddle.

As the end-leaves are folded only at the back edges, the other edges being free, it sometimes happens that, particularly if the end-leaves are of heavier stock than the other leaves or a plate is interposed, the suction cups fail to draw the signatures completely open at the middle. The object of the present invention is the provision of a simple method and means which can be operated at high speed with the assurance of a complete opening of the signatures at their middle so that they will be accurately deposited on the support or saddle in proper condition for subsequent treatment, and thereby eliminate the above mentioned possibility of failure of the signatures to be properly opened.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing illustrates a signature brought to vertical position by the feed cylinder and grasped by the suction cups. Fig. 2 shows the signature partly opened by the action of the suction cups. Fig. 3 shows the signature fully opened above the saddle. Fig. 4 is a face view of the signature showing the endleaves punctured in one manner. Fig. 5 shows the end-leaves punctured in a difierent place. Fig. 6 shows a modified form of holes in the endleaves. Fig. 7 illustrates the position of the suction cups against the face of the end-leaves. Fig. 8 illustrates the relation of the suction cups to the signature, on exaggerated scale. Fig. 9 is a view showing a means for puncturing the endleaves.

In the drawing l indicates the continuously rotated signature feed cylinde 2 21 Signature, 3 suction cups, 4 the ends of the tubes which lead from the cups to a valve controlled means for producing the required suction at the proper time, 5 the ends of arms which carry the suction cups up and in for grasping the signature, and drawing it down and out for opening the signature above the saddle 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken near the folded head end of a signature, on exaggerated and distorted scale, showing the relation of the main or inner leaves I of a signature and the endleaves 8, of heavier stock, grasped by the suction cups. The end-leaves are shown as having perforations 9 that are spanned by the cups. As a result of this condition not only will the endleaves be drawn out by the pull of the suction cups but also, as the cups span the perforations, the folded head ends of the inner signature leaves will be pulled apart and separated at the middle so that the signature will drop accurately on the saddle.

The perforations in the end-leaves can be positioned along the head edge [0, as shown in Fig. 4, or along the front edge I l, as shown in Fig. 5, or both, or the edges may be mutilated by notches i2, as shown in Fig. 6. The perforations or notches are located near to or at the edges of the end-leaves so as to be removed when the signature is trimmed, as indicated by the dotted lines i3, and they may be made by passing the endleaves between rolls l4 provided with punches or cutters l5, Fig. 9.

The simple conception of perforating or cutting away edges of the end-leaves and exposing portions of the inner leaves near their folded edges is applicable to high speed signature feeding mechanisms employing suction means for opening the signatures, as not only are .the free front edges of the end-leaves drawn open by the sue-- 2 2,39o,ooi

tion means, but regardless of the thickness of the end-leaves, the inner leaves of the signature are drawn apart at the middle, for they are subject to the pull of the suction means which span the removed portions of the end-leaves and the exposed portions of the inner leaves near their folded edges 1. The method of opening book signat'urstliat have folded body leaves and end leaves, which comprises mutilating the end-leaves of the signatures by cutting away or perforating;them;atlor near their edges outside of the trim lines Qfjhe signatures, and subjecting} signature leaves inside orsaidniutuauns, coincidently to the pull of suction means.

2. The method of opening foldedbook'sigriatures that have unfolded end leaves, whichcomprises removing small portions of the end-leaves :of the signature, outside-yofdthe ltrimylines .of the signature and simultaneously subjecting the endleaves' andz'the signature .leav'es'inside of the re- Z-moved portions of"the'e'nd -leaves tothe'pull of suction means comprises perforating'the end-leavesqof thesignatures I near v1 their edges, and applying .suction .tproducing means to. said"end-leaves over and about; said perforations.

:4; Themetho'd oiopening1book'signaturesthat have folded body leaves and end leaves which end-,leayesandg'the "1 6. methods of opening book signatures 5 drawing apart said suction means.

5. The method of opening \book signatures that l1ave folded bogyleaves front and back end leav, ."which;cgunpriss qpfe'ning' through --'l-.. tu "th ffo t and back end-leaves'riear"the folded 10 edges of the body leaves, moving suctionmeans inward against the end leaves so as to cover said ;'open ingS,,. producing a suction in said suction means, and drawing said suction means and signature 165 outward.

whieh'have' folded body leaves and attached end lle'aves fand 'platesthat comprises perforating the endleaves and plates, applying suction means to the end-leaves over said perforations and by said 20. suction meansdrawingtheemklsave msgza d ,fbody leavespf. the signature apart at the middle hezbodrleav s- 1- The meth dh ev nin Mp1s .si aatmflhat h old d bo y lea p vided .w n ve '25 semnflsesr gncrins ma ng Pi/H 3- eave l o. stezezie samx onsza ,th mdsd My leaves a d a p i sus i n t thee d-le y sa ex ose portion o et .bs rlee es te is mu an qu ly dlt winsiqbenztlle end-leaves tile 30 body leaves'of the signatures. 

